82 
ORCHARD MOTH CATERPILLARS. 
gradually melting into it with warm sunshine ; but still, considering 
the variety in the composition of mixtures used for grease, or sticky - 
banding, it would be as well to be sure that the kind of grease-proof 
paper used would not allow them to penetrate to the bark. 
The mixtures sold under the name of cart or waggon grease, or as 
axle grease or railway grease, differ exceedingly in the ingredients 
used, and in some cases might be exceedingly hurtful. The simplest 
form for what is sold as cart grease appears to be a mixture of tallow, 
palm oil, and soft-soap. Another mixture is of a more or less perfectly 
formed soap, water, carbonate of soda, and neutral fat. Another is a 
soap of lime and rosin oil, with or without water ; and a mixture 
similar to this last or much resembling it was found to answer well at 
Toddington. A grease with tar oils mixed with sulphate of lime and 
water burnt the bark, and this is just an instance of where grease¬ 
proof paper would need testing. If it resisted the penetration the 
additional deterrent powers of the tar oils would be an advantage, but 
if not, these being even to a lessened extent allowed to come in contact 
with young live bark would do a deal of mischief. The kinds of “ axle 
grease” or “lubricants” containing petroleum or petroleum residue 
would also be very injurious.* 
Prevention by greased hay ropes laid on the ground so as to encircle 
the guarded tree. 
The following communication with which I was favoured on Nov. 
20th by Mr. Arkwright, of Hampton Court, Leominster, is well worth 
notice:—“ I visited my orchards which have been treated with cart 
grease three weeks ago, and found the hay bands in perfect order and 
catching every living creeper. The grease had not melted or hardened, 
and I am perfectly certain that no crawling creature could pass the 
band. 
“ I twisted hay round a piece of cocoa-nut string such as they use 
for Hops, and tied it as tight as I could round the trees ; afterwards 
painting the under angle of outside with the common grease bought 
in tins for cart wheels. Common cart grease bought in 14 lb. tins at 
Ballow & Co., Leominster. It comes to about 2d. a pound.”— 
(J. H. A.) 
With this communication, Mr. Arkwright was good enough to send 
a hay band for examination which appeared to be answering its 
purpose very thoroughly. The grease was still quite soft and tenacious, 
and the method of applying it mentioned by Mr. Arkwright meets (so 
far as I can see) the practical objection to the use of tar or grease hay- 
* For more special notes on these see pp. 59 and 60 of my ‘13th Report on 
Injurious Insects,’ where are also references to recipes in a paper on lubricants in 
‘Workshop Recipes,’ by C. Warneford Locke, published by E. & F. N. Spoil, 
Charing Cross, London. 
